Fluorescent lighting luminaire



S. R. NAYSNHTH FLUORESCENT LIGHTING LUMINAIRE Nam 8, 1949 Filed July 7, 1944 2 Sheets-Sneet 1 lNVENTOR J'H/RLEY R- NA YSMITH ATTORNEY Nva & 1149 s. R. NAYSMRITH 294879468 FLUORESCENT LIGHTING ILUMINAIRE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 7, 1944 J HOT CATHODE 7 25 STARTER Z/ 1 -7- MULT/PLE LAMP HOLDER SHun/Tm Sod/(E719 f/ 4 5 5'! d9 17 45' 4/ 4;"

m z 42 L? w MULTIPLE LAMP HOLDER BAL AST WITHOUT SHUNTED SOCKETS M LE Cour CAT/400E L ow VOLTAGE BALLAST INVENTOR $H/Ri. EY R. IVA YSM/TH 'ATTO RNEY ZLAMFHOLDER Patented Nov. 8, 1949 2,487,468 FLUORESCENT LIGHTING LUMINAIRE Shirley R. Naysmith,

The Miller Compan Meriden, Conn assignor to y, Meriden, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application July 7, 1944, Serial No. 543,824

6 Claims. (Cl. 240-51.11)

The present invention relates to fluorescent lighting luminaires.

Fluorescent lighting luminaires as manufactured are completely assembled (except for open reflectors which in addition to the supporting structure and housing (where used), suitable lamp holders or lamp sockets for supporting the fluorescent lamps and supplying them with current, and suitable auxiliaries or b ll t Wi h or without starters, and wiring. is customary to employ a single ballast unit, or auxiliary, with su'table reactive and capacitative parts to supply two f uorescent lamps.

The complete assembling of all the component parts going to make up he fl ore cen fixture by the fixture manufacturer the place of use, requires packing, transportation to the fixture manufacturers factory and handling of all these component parts, which are made by various parts manufacturers in various After the fixture has been completed the complete fixture must be again packed and shipped to the place where it is to be used. Hence the usual fixture requires at least twice shipping many of the parts, and the last shipment being of the completed fixture, which is a bulky object, is done at a high freight rate.

The present invention contemplates the design of the fluorescent lighting equipment in such a way that the parts necessary for assembling fixtures may be shipped from different factories to a convenient destination adjacent the ultimate location of the fixtures.

According to the present invention the body, supports and reflectors for making up the fixtures could be made by the fixture manufacturer and provided with all the attaching devices required for completing the assembly of the lighting equipmen. Instead of using four separate lamp holders designed for pin type lamps, with two starter sockets in the case of hot cathode lamps, as is now universally practiced, the present invention contemplates employing a single lamp holder carrying all the conductors, terminals and parts necessary to support the two adjacent ends of two lamps, also a fluorescent lamp starter (where used? and provides terminals such as blades for plugging contact. When the invention is employed with cold cathode low voltage lamps, the lamp holders are of any type suitable for use with such lamps and have blade usually terminals suitable for plugging contact. These by the 2 two-lamp lamp holders are fixedly secured to the fixture body.

The invention also contemplates that the ballast unit whether of the hot cathode type, the instant start type, or the cold cathode low voltage type Will be provided, in addition to the usual inductive and capacitative parts, with multiple conductor cables having receptacles at their ends whereby all the wiring within the luminaire may be completed by merely plugging together the cable-carried receptacles to the fixed lamp holders. The supporting body is arranged to support the length spacing and to receive and support the ballast. When the ballast is external suitable openings are provided so that the cables and receptacles may be passed into the interior.

When luminaires are constructed in accordance with the present invention the ballast units may be completed and pretested by the ballast manufacturer, the lamp holders by the lamp holder manufacturer, and shipped to the proper destination in suitable lots without passing through the factory of the fixture manufacturer, thereby avoiding freight and handling, and the parts can be readily assembled on the job with certainty that all the wiring will be correct.

Other and further objects will hereinafter ap pear as the description proceeds.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustratin the present invention, several embodiments in which the invention may take form, it being understood that the drawings are illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a luminaire with external ballast employing the present invention and designed for continuous lighting in stallation;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the bal last unit with cables and plugs for hot cathode operation;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the fixture body and one of the two-lamp lamp holders for hot cathode lamps, these parts being separated;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showin the wireway, the ballast unit, and one of the lamp holders all assembled in position;

Figure 5 is a perspective View showing the completed fixture with reflector and both lamp holders;

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram for a hot cathode luminaire; 1

Figure '7 is a wiring diagram for an instant start luminaire and Figure 8 is a wiring diagram for a cold cathode low voltage luminaire.

While the specific showing herein relates to luminaires with two fluorescent lamps and a twolamp lamp ballast, it is understood that the in; vention is also applicable to multiple lamp fixtures employing single ballast units for three and four lamp fixtures.

The luminaire shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, employs a sheet metal wireway Hi, the length of which is usually the nominal lamp length of the lamps to be used or twice that lamp length. This wireway has inwardly extending stiifening flanges II, II at the bottom, side walls I 2-I 2, and raised central upper portion l3 provided with beads I 4-44 for cooperation with supports (not shown). The raised portion is narrower so that flat lateral portions [5 are provided. Such a wireway may, for example, have an overall width of approximately 4", a side wall depth of approximately and the other parts in the proportion indicated.

The raised central portion I3 of the wireway is of a suitable width to accommodate a lamp ballast l6 and is provided with openings ll, ll spaced the distance apart of the lead cables l8, l8 from the ballast l6. The ballast will have suitable inductive and capacitative parts, as typically illustrated in Figure 6 and may be secured in place by bolts l 9 passing through bolt holes as usual.

The cables l8, I8 secured to the lamp ballast are four-conductor cables and at their ends carry four-contact receptacles 26, 20. One of these conductors l8a at one end is opened as indicated at 2| for power supply leads. The wiring of the ballast and cables is indicated in Figure 6, the ballast itself being of the usual construction with the usual inductive and capacitative parts and having the three customary leads in each direction as indicated at l8a, [8b, I80, [8d, IBe, l3 It contains in addition to the three customary leads in each cable one additional fourth wire I8g, not ordinarily built into the ballast, which extends directly through the ballast housing without having any electrical connection with the other parts. The receptacles can be passed down through the openings I1, I l in the wireway and the lengths of the cables are of just the proper length to fit the mountings to be described.

Cross plates 22, 22 carry straps 23, 23 whose free ends are bent upwardly as indicated at 24, 24. These ends are welded to the raised central portion of the wireway, while the cross straps are welded to the flat portions l5, l5 of the wireway. The spacing of the outer edges of the cross plates corresponds with lamp length.

Two-lamp lamp holders 25, 25 are secured to the cross plates 22, 22- by screws 26, 26 threaded into tapped holes 21, 21 in the plates 22. Downwardly bent prongs 21, 21' on the cross straps 22, 22 engage the lamp holders 25 and assist in aligning them. The wiring for these lamp holders is indicated in Figure 6. Each lamp holder has four projecting blade contacts 28 asymmetrically ar ranged in cooperation with the receptacle contacts 29 on receptacles 20. The blade contacts 28 are connected to the lamp starter and the two lamp holders as indicated in Figure 6. One of the receptacles 20, namely, the left one of Figure 6 has a jumper 30 so that the power lead l8a is connected to two receptacle contacts. The receptacles 20, 20 are secured to the straps 23, 23 by screws 3|, 3| passing through holes 32, 32 in the iii 4 receptacles and threaded into holes 33 in the straps 23, 23.

The detailed structure of the lamp holders 25, 25 and receptacles 20, 20 is shown in my application for patent for Multiple lamp fluorescent lamp holders, Serial No. 543,823, filed concurrently herewith.

The straps 23, 23 also carry depending threaded studs 34, 34 and two of these studs are adapted to support a reflector such as shown at 35, the reflector being notched to accommodate the lamp holders 25, 25 and projecting lamp starters as will be apparent from the drawings.

Instead of the fixture manufacturer completely assembling the fixture and shipping it in the completely assembled state, except for the reflector, the present invention contemplates that the fixture manufacturer will be able to assemble into one package a number of wireways each having the welded straps as shown in Figure 3, and assemble in another package a number of reflectors. These may be shipped directly to a destination convenient for the point of use. The complete ballast such as shown in Figure 2 with the assembled leads and receptacles can be made and tested by the ballast manufacturer and shipped direct in comparatively small packages taking up practically no more room than the ballasts alone require. The lamp holders 25, 25 may be shipped directly from the factory of the lamp holder manufacturer with assurance that they will operate satisfactorily when assembled. The assembly of the fixture merely requires fastening the twolamp lamp holders in place by the screws 26, 26 so that the blades of the two-lamp lamp holders are definitely located relative to one another. Before the ballast is fastened in place the receptacles 26, 20 are passed down through the holes l7, l7 and after the ballast is secured in place the receptacles may be pushed against the lamp holders so that the blade contacts enter the receptacles, thereby completing all the wiring between the ballast, the lamp holders and lamps. To wire up the fixture it is then merely necessary to connect the power supply leads 2 I, 2| with the power wires which are indicated at 36, 36. These power wires may extend through a number of fixtures mounted end to end. They are held in place above the cross straps or plates 22, 22 and all the wiring will be housed and completely protected when the reflector is mounted in place.

Owing to the ability to ship the fixture parts in the manner described above it is possible to avoid much of the shipping and handling of parts heretofore necessary in connection with fluorescent lighting equipment, and the hazard of breakage of fragile lamp holders is avoided.

Where the fixture is to have an enclosed ballast, the wireway, such, for example, as that shown in my Patents 2,291,490 and 2,321,099 is provided with a lamp holder supporting strap similar to those there shown.

Figure '7 shows a wiring diagram for a luminaire with instant start lamps. The luminaire structure may be such as above described and the difference residing in the type of auxiliaries and lamp holders employed. The auxiliary MI is of an approved instant start type as produced by the ballast manufacturer. The wires 4! and 42 are connected to a two contact receptacle 43. One power wire for the auxiliary is at 44 and the other ballast lead at 35. This wire and the other power wire 46 are connected to a two contact receptacle 41. These wires are in cables similar to those shown in Figure 2. Receptacle 4! is plugged to a fixedly supported two lamp holder 48 having shunted sockets 49 and 50, while receptacle 43 is plugged to a two lamp holder 51 having sockets 52 and 53 without shunts. These lamp holders are shown in detail in the application above referred to. The blades and receptacle contacts are suitably polarized so that improper plugging is avoided. The ability to separately shi ballasts with cables and receptacles from one source of supply, lamps holders from another and fixture structures from a third, to the location of installation is retained.

In Figure 8 the circuit for two cold cathode low voltage lamps is shown. The ballast or reactor to is connected to line wires GI and $2. One line wire is connected to a single contact receptacle 63 and two output wires to a two contact receptacle 64. The lamp holder 65 at the left has one central blade 65, while the lamp holder 51 at the right has two blades 68 and 69. The lamp holders 48 and may be any of the usual tw-o lamp holders customarily employed in cold cathode low voltage work, being provided with the blades for plugging contact with the receptacles.

Since it is obvious that the invention may be embodied in other forms and constructions within the scope of the claims, I wish it to be understood that the particular form shown is but one of these forms, and various modifications and changes being possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A fluorescent lighting luminaire having two parallel fluorescent lamps with the usual pin terminals, a rigid supporting body of at least the length of the lamps, two two-lamp lamp holders fixedly secured to the body at spacings to suprt the two lamps, each lamp holder having an insulating body and being provided with four contacts cooperable with the pin terminals of the lamps, and with four contact blades extending from the insulating body toward the center of the luminaire, and a ballast unit secured to the top of the body and having the usual conductive and capacitative parts for multiple lamp operation of Said lamps and two multi-conductor cables each provided with an outwardly facing connector receptacle for plugging connection with said contact blades, the body having holes through which the receptacles and cables may be passed, each quick the conductors of the corresponding lamp holder.

2. A fluorescent lighting luminaire comprising two two-lamp fluorescent lamp holders each lamp holder having a normall inverted L-shaped insulating body and being provided in its dependent portion with the openings and terminals for the reception of the pin terminals of two parallel horizontal fluorescent lamps, on its horizontal portion with exposed conductin blades, and having conductors extending from the blades to the pin cooperative terminals, a supporting body, means to secure the lampholders to the under side of the body at lamp length spacing, a ballast unit having a two-lamp lamp ballast having the usual conductive and capacitative parts for operation of suc and receptacl h lamps, two multiconductor cables es on the ends of the cables with last unit may be with the body ballast unit 0 pretested and later assembled to complete the luminaire and the ables and receptacles may be readily removed for repairs and replacemen 3. For use in a luminaire employing two tubular gaseous discharge lamps parallel with one another and of equal length and carried at their ends by lampholders having male current supply contacts facing inwardly, a multiple-lamp ballast having the for multiple usual inductive and capacitative parts -lamp operation of said lamps, and

two multi-conductor cables each provided with an outwardly facing connector receptacle for plugging connection with the current supply contacts.

4. For use in a luminaire employing two tubular hot cathode gaseous discharge lamps parallel with one another and of equal length and carried at their ends by lampholders having male current supply contacts facing inwardly and each connected to one of said contacts through a starter, a multipl e-lamp ballast having the usual inductive and capacitative parts for multiple-lamp operation of said lamps, and two four-conductor cables each provided with an outwardly facing connector receptacle for plugging connection with the current supply contacts.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the ballast is carried in a housing and one of the conductors in each cable is connected to one of the conductors of the other cable inside the housing.

6. For use in a luminaire employing two tubular instant start gaseous discharge lamps parallel with one another and of equal length and carried at their ends by lampholders having male current supply contacts facing inwardly, a multiplelamp ballast having the usual inductive and capacitative parts for multiple-lamp operation of SHIRLEY R. NAYSMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Freeman Oct. 13, 1942 Yost Nov. 10, 1942 Gaynor Nov. 1'7, 1942 Biller Feb. 22, 1944 

